Hey everyone! I installed Windows 11 on my PC back in January 2024, and I'm considering doing a fresh install via USB because I'm facing some issues and feeling a bit paranoid about potential viruses, even though Defender and Malwarebytes haven't flagged anything. I mainly use my PC for gaming, so it shouldn't be too complicated, right?
Here's my plan:
1. I'm going to back up all my personal files, including my Steam games, onto an external HDD. I've got a C drive with only a few personal files, and my G drive is mostly for Steam and some emulator stuff. I'll tell Windows to remember my settings through my Microsoft account to speed things up.
2. I will make a list of non-default apps I've installed – it's not much, just Steam, Libre Office, WinMerge, Google QuickShare, FanControl, and WinSCP.
3. Using a different computer, I'll create a up-to-date Windows 11 installation USB, then wipe both the C and G drives before reinstalling Windows on the C drive.
4. Once I'm back to the desktop, I'll restore my files to the C drive and games to the G drive, then reinstall all my apps and sign back in. I might need to calibrate HDR later.
5. Lastly, I'll create a backup this time, unlike I did last time, just in case anything goes wrong.
Now, I'm a bit confused about drivers. My GPU (AMD 7800) is up to date, but do I need to worry about my internet connection? At one point, I had trouble with my MediaTek WiFi/Bluetooth card and had to source a driver manually, even though Windows said everything was fine. Will this be a problem during the USB installation? Do I need to have a wired mouse and keyboard ready, or will my wireless ones be okay?
2 Answers
You don't actually need to wipe both drives. Just format the C drive – as long as there aren't any boot flags on the G drive, you're good to go. It's a smart move to unplug other drives during installation so you won't accidentally erase them. Before you start the install, check your BIOS/UEFI settings too. Make sure Secure Boot is enabled and CSM is off. After Windows installs, if your Steam games are on the G drive, just redirect Steam to recognize your Steam Library again.
When reinstalling, the main driver you need to have sorted out is for your internet connection, whether that's your motherboard, wireless dongle, or some kind of network card. Once you get that right, everything else can be re-downloaded after you're up and running again. Usually, wireless keyboards should work fine, but just to be safe, you might want to use a wired one during the reinstall. If you're really worried about keeping your data safe, think about buying a new hard drive to install Windows on and transfer data afterward, giving you a backup option.
Thanks for clarifying that! I’ll make sure to review the BIOS settings before starting. That eases some of my worry about the backup process.